“The daily hospital rate should be US$200,” Minister André Misiekaba of Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Arbeid said on Wednesday before the start of the Raad van Ministers (Council of Ministers).
The minister said that hospitals have been requesting an adjustment to the daily hospital rates for a very long time, and the ministry has agreed to implement this. According to him, the daily hospital rates should amount to US$200, which is approximately SRD 8,000. “We will not be able to take such a major step at this time,” Misiekaba stressed.
At present, the daily hospital rate at Academisch Ziekenhuis Paramaribo is SRD 4,200, at the other hospitals it is SRD 3,600, and at Psychiatrisch Centrum Suriname it is approximately SRD 2,000. A first step is now being taken towards increasing the daily hospital rates, and these will amount to between SRD 2,000 and SRD 2,500. “The next increase will probably be achieved in January.”
With these increased daily hospital rates, the hospitals must then pay the wages of healthcare staff themselves. “We are now dealing with all administrative matters and, once everything is in order, the new salary scale will be introduced as soon as possible.”
